RIDLEY Bicycle - What Kind of a Bike Is It

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3. WHAT KIND OF A BIKE IS IT?
Adult bicycles can be broadly categorized into four types, according
to the intended use for which the bike was designed: Road Bikes,
Mountain Bikes, Cross Bikes and City or Cruiser Bikes. While there
is a lot of use overlap in bike design, each type of bike is designed to
provide optimum performance, comfort and safety under specific use
conditions. Which type is your new bike?
3.1. The Road Bike
Sometimes called a racing bike because it is derived from the bikes
used by bicycle road racers and triathletes, the road bike is for fast
travel, hard training and competition on paved surfaces. It is the
lightest, most aerodynamic and "fastest" type of bike. Because it is
generally ridden on relatively smooth paved roads, its frame is made
as stiff and light as possible, and its frame geometry is designed to
give it quick, very precise response to rider input. Its components,
especially the wheels, tend to be lighter than those for other
categories, again because they don't get banged around as much. Its
dropped handlebars, sometimes equipped with aero bar extensions,
are designed to give the rider good leverage for climbing and
sprinting, and to position the rider in an aerodynamic “tuck” for
speed. Its high-pressure, narrow tires reduce rolling resistance to a
minimum. But: The ride tends to be too stiff for comfort on rougher
surfaces. The frame and components may be too light to take the
pounding of off-road excursions. The handlebars position the rider in
a way that many find uncomfortable for more casual riding. The
narrow tires are unsuitable for loose surfaces.
WEIGHT LIMIT Road bikes 125kg.
3.2. The Mountain Bike
The Mountain Bike is designed to give the rider greater control and
durability on a wide variety of harsh terrain. Everything about the
Mountain Bike is more rugged. Its frame geometry provides
additional ground clearance and allows you to shift your weight to
change the balance of the bike as terrain conditions demand. Its
wide, high-volume tyres absorb shock and provide better, more
stable control with loose or slippery surfaces. Its wide-range gearing,
usually with 18 or more speeds, provides the right choice for almost
any conditions. Many Mountain Bikes come equipped with
suspension systems that help absorb the shocks and vibrations of
rough trails.